Smile: Now you’re busted

A camera helped Seattle police Tuesday night do what dogs and officers scouring a neighborhood couldn’t: find three armed robbers.

Late Tuesday night, officers went to a mini-mart in the 7900 block of Renton Avenue South. The clerk there reported that three males robbed him at gunpoint.

Police brought in dogs to search but didn’t find the suspects.

Officers stopped several possible suspects, but the clerk said they weren’t the robbers.

But a review of images from the security camera gave investigators a better description, which was broadcast to other officers. Two officers said they saw a possible suspect go into an apartment complex in the 8700 block of Rainier Avenue South as they were responding to the robbery.

Officers staked out the complex, and four males soon came out.

They tried to get on a Metro bus, but police detained three who matched the descriptions of the suspects.

The clerk identified them, and police found one was carrying a .380-caliber pistol.

They probably got their picture taken again when police booked two into the King County Jail and a third into juvenile detention.